International Chronostratigraphic Timescale

The interval definitions in this timescale are derived from the following sources:

  • K. M. Cohen, S.C. Finney, P.L. Gibbard and J.-X. Fan. 2023. The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart v2023/09. view
  • M. O. Woodburne. 1987. A prospectus of the North American Mammal Ages. In: Woodburne, M. O. (ed.), Cenozoic Mammals of North America. University of California Press, Berkelery, CA 285-290 view
  • J. Alroy. 2000. New methods for quantifying macroevolutionary patterns and processes. Paleobiology 26(4):707-733 view
  • F. F. Steininger, W. A. Berggren, D. V. Kent, R. L. Bernor, S. Sen and J. Agusti. 1996. Circum-Mediterranean Neogene (Miocene and Pliocene) marine-continental chronologic correlations of European mammal units. The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas (eds. R. L. Bernor, V. Fahlbusch, and H.-W. Mittmann) view
  • J. A. Lillegraven and M. C. McKenna. 1986. Fossil mammals from the "Mesaverde" Formation (Late Cretaceous, Judithian) of the Bighorn and Wind River basins, Wyoming, with definitions of Late Cretaceous North American Land-Mammal "Ages". American Museum Novitates 2840:1-68 view
  • J. Palfy, P. L. Smith, and J. K. Mortensen. 2000. A U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar time scale for the Jurassic. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 37(6):923-944 view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz and G. M. Ogg. 2020. Geologic Time Scale 2020 view
  • B. D. Webby. 1998. Steps toward a global standard for Ordovician stratigraphy. Newsletters in Stratigraphy 36:1-33 view
  • A. D. Barnosky, M. Holmes, R. Kirchholtes, E. Lindsey, K.C. Maguire, A.W. Poust, M.A. Stegner, J. Sunseri, B. Swartz, J. Swift, N.A. Villavicencio and G. Wogan. 2014. Prelude to the Anthropocene: Two new North American Land Mammal Ages (NALMAs). The Anthropocene Review I(3):225-242 view
  • W. B. Harland, R. L. Armstrong, A. V. Cox, L. E. Craig, A. G. Smith and D. G. Smith. 1990. A Geologic Time Scale 1989. view
  • F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, and A. G. Smith. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 1-589 view

There are 59 timescales which overlap this one. show

Interval boundaries marked with * have been interpolated based on the differences between the ages for international timescale boundaries quoted in the source and the currently accepted ages for those boundaries.

Interval names marked with † are no longer in current use.

This timescale is used in the definition of 126192 collections

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International Chronostratigraphic TimescaleNorth American Mammal Subages/ZonesTen Million Year BinsEuropean Faunal ZonesCretaceous North American Land-Mammal AgesAmmonite Chrons of Northwest EuropeOrdovician of ChinaNorth American Land Mammal AgesPermian Subages of GermanyCambrian EpochsCambrian of North America
QuaternaryHoloceneMeghalayanCenozoic 6Saintaugustinean0
Santarosean0.0004
Northgrippian0.0042
Greenlandian0.0082
PleistoceneLate PleistoceneSheridanian0.0117
Rancholabrean0.014
Chibanian0.129
Cudahyan/SappanIrvingtonian0.21
Calabrian0.774
Senecan/RexroadianBlancan1.4
GelasianMN 171.8
NeogenePliocenePiacenzianMN 162.58
MN 153.2
Zanclean3.6
MN 144.2
Late Hemphillian/late Early Hemphillian/early Early HemphillianHemphillian4.7
MN 134.9
MioceneMessinian5.333
TortonianMN 127.246
MN 117.75
MN 108.7
Late Clarendonian/Early ClarendonianClarendonian9.4
MN 99.7
MN 7 + 811.1
SerravallianCenozoic 511.63
late Late Barstovian/early Late Barstovian/Early BarstovianBarstovian12.5
MN 612.8 *
LanghianMN 513.82
BurdigalianMN 415.98
Late Hemingfordian/Early HemingfordianHemingfordian16.3
MN 316.9
late Late Arikareean/early Late Arikareean/late Early Arikareean/early Early ArikareeanHarrisonianArikareean18.5
MN 220
Aquitanian20.44
MN 122.4
PaleogeneOligoceneChattianCenozoic 423.03
Monroecreekian23.1 *
Geringian24.7 *
Rupelian27.82
Whitneyan29.5
Orellan31.8
EocenePriabonianLate Chadronian/Middle Chadronian/Early ChadronianCenozoic 3Chadronian33.9
Duchesnean37
Bartonian37.71
Late Uintan/Early UintanUintan39.7
LutetianCenozoic 241.2
Twinbuttean/Blacksforkian/GardnerbuttianBridgerian46.2
Ypresian47.8
Lostcabinian/Lysitean/Graybullian/SandcouleeanWasatchian50.5
Cf3/Cf2/Cf1Clarkforkian54.9
PaleoceneThanetianCenozoic 156
Ti6/Ti5/Ti4/Ti3/Ti2/Ti1Tiffanian56.2
Selandian59.2
To3/To2/To1Torrejonian60.9
Danian61.6
Pu3/Pu2/Pu1Puercan63.8
CretaceousLate CretaceousMaastrichtianCretaceous 8Lancian/Edmontonian66
CampanianCretaceous 7Judithian/Aquilan72.1
SantonianCretaceous 683.6
Coniacian86.3
Turonian89.8
CenomanianCretaceous 593.9
Early CretaceousAlbianCretaceous 4100.5
AptianCretaceous 3113
BarremianCretaceous 2121.4
Hauterivian125.77
ValanginianCretaceous 1132.6
Berriasian139.8
JurassicLate JurassicTithonianJurassic 6145
KimmeridgianJurassic 5149.2
Oxfordian154.8
Middle JurassicCallovian161.5
BathonianJurassic 4165.3
BajocianParkinsoni/Garantiana/Subfurcatum/Sauzei/Laeviuscula/Discites168.2
Humphresianum168.4
AalenianJurassic 3Concavum/Murchisonae/Opalinum170.9
Early JurassicToarcianLevesquei/Variabilis/BifronsThouarsense174.7
180.1
Serpentinum/Falciferum/Tenuicostatum182
PliensbachianJurassic 2Spinatum/Margaritatus/Davoei/Ibex/Jamesoni184.2
SinemurianJurassic 1Raricostatum/Oxynotum/Obtusum/Turneri/Semicostatum/Bucklandi192.9
HettangianAngulata/Liasicus/Planorbis199.5
TriassicLate TriassicRhaetianTriassic 4201.4
Norian208.5
CarnianTriassic 3227
Middle TriassicLadinianTriassic 2237
Anisian242
Early TriassicOlenekianTriassic 1247.2
Induan251.2
PermianLopingianChanghsingianPermian 4Buntsandstein251.902
Wuchiapingian254.14
GuadalupianCapitanianOhre/Aller259.51
WordianLeine264.28
RoadianPermian 3266.9
CisuralianKungurianPermian 2273.01
Artinskian283.5
Sakmarian290.1
AsselianPermian 1293.52
CarboniferousPennsylvanianGzhelianCarboniferous 5298.9
Kasimovian303.7
MoscovianCarboniferous 4307
Bashkirian315.2
MississippianSerpukhovianCarboniferous 3323.2
ViseanCarboniferous 2330.9
TournaisianCarboniferous 1346.7
DevonianLate DevonianFamennianDevonian 5358.9
FrasnianDevonian 4372.2
Middle DevonianGivetianDevonian 3382.7
Eifelian387.7
Early DevonianEmsianDevonian 2393.3
PragianDevonian 1407.6
Lochkovian410.8
SilurianPridoliSilurian 2419.2
LudlowLudfordian423
Gorstian425.6
WenlockHomerian427.4
Sheinwoodian430.5
LlandoveryTelychianSilurian 1433.4
Aeronian438.5
Rhuddanian440.8
OrdovicianLate OrdovicianHirnantianOrdovician 5HirnantianXiaoxita †/ShikouWufeng †443.8
KatianChientangkiangian445.2
Neichianshanian/Hanjiang449.5
SandbianOrdovician 4453
Middle OrdovicianDarriwilianOrdovician 3DarriwilianGuniu †/Hulo458.4
Hunjiang †Dawan †/Daobaowan/Ningkuo466.3 *
DapingianOrdovician 2Dapingian467.3
Early OrdovicianFloianYiyangian470
TremadocianOrdovician 1Xinchangian477.7
Lianghekou †477.9 *
CambrianFurongianStage 10Cambrian 5Late CambrianFranconian †/Dresbachian/Millardan485.4
Sunwaptan487.5
Jiangshanian489.5
Steptoean493 *
Paibian494
MiaolingianGuzhangianCambrian 4Middle CambrianMarjumianAlbertian †497
Drumian500.5
WuliuanCambrian 3Topazan504.5
Delamaran506.5
Series 2Stage 4Early CambrianWaucoban †509
Dyeran511 *
Stage 3Cambrian 2514
Montezuman514.8 *
Begadean519.9 *
TerreneuvianStage 2521
FortunianCambrian 1529
538.8